Lapsing of the Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) Notification, 2008
For the purpose of conserving the coastal environment the Ministry had issued the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 1991 to regulate various activities in CRZ areas. The Notification has undergone 25 amendments during its implementation since 1991 to 2009. The Ministry received large number of suggestions and objections to the draft CMZ Notification. In order to examine these suggestions and objections and to formulate the Coastal Zone Management approach for the country, the Ministry constituted a four-Member Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. M. S. Swaminathan on 15.6.2009. The Expert Committee submitted its Report on 16.6.2009 and the Ministry accepted the Report. The Expert Committee in its recommendations has urged that the CMZ Notification, 2008 be allowed to lapse on 22.7.2009. The Expert Committee also suggested that the Ministry may take action to strengthen and implement the existing CRZ Notification, 1991 more rigorously.